PRINCE William and his wife Kate are to move into his mother Princess Diana’s former home, it was revealed yesterday.

Prince William and Kate will pick up the keys to a “small” apartment at the Palace within weeks.

The stunning royal residence was Prince William’s boyhood home until the death of his mother in 1997.

Kensington Palace was Prince William's boyhood home

Kate and Prince William's official London residence will be at Kensington Palace

Royal spokesman

In the run-up to their wedding in April, the couple shared living quarters with Prince Harry at nearby Clarence House – the official London home of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

But Prince William, 28, was said to be keen to return to the home where he grew up. In the days leading up to their wedding, Prince William took Kate, 29, to see Princess Diana’s old apartment at the Palace.

He wanted to share his childhood memories while discussing their options.

Apartments eight and nine were combined in 1981 to create the London residence of the Prince of Wales and Diana after their wedding. Princes William and Harry went to local nursery and pre-prep schools in nearby Notting Hill.

Their mother took the young boys to local shops and restaurants in Kensington High Street as she encouraged them to lead a “normal” childhood.

Diana carried on living there after her separation from Prince Charles in 1992 and divorce four years later.

It remained Diana’s official home until her death in a car crash in Paris the following year.

Princess Diana with the Emanuels in her living room at Kensington Palace

An insider said: “It is the place where William grew up. He has many happy memories.

“William showed Kate around while they were looking for a suitable home before their wedding and she liked it very much.”

The couple will not be able to move into apartments eight and nine as they are currently being used as office space.

The move to a smaller apartment will be temporary as it is not big enough to begin a family and to entertain.

But the couple may decide to make Kensington Palace their permanent home if more space becomes available.

Another option considered for the house-hunting newlyweds was St James’s Palace where the couple’s office is based.

Prince William is said to have had many happy memories at Kensington Palace

But Prince William was said to have dismissed the idea of beginning married life in a property which has been described as “dark, dingy and depressing”. In contrast Kensington Palace is known as a “children’s paradise” with its long passageways and many outdoor gardens including one on the roof.

The couple’s current main home is a rented cottage in Anglesey where the Duke works as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

They will spend most of the first two years of marriage living there but need a London base.

Last night a spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official London residence will temporarily become a property at Kensington Palace. A number of options for longer term solutions are still being considered. The couple’s main home will continue to be their house on Anglesey, and their Household Office will continue to be based at St James’s Palace.”

Kensington Palace will now be the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

A source said the Duke and Duchess would be moving in “at some point in June or July”. It had been hoped the newlyweds would have settled in by June 21 – Prince William’s 29th birthday – but they will have to organise the move around their 11-day tour to Canada and the US which begins on June 30.